Australia
March 31, 2025

Following India’s reinstatement of tariffs on chickpeas and lentils, Grains Australia will continue working closely with the important South Asian market and support the supply of high quality Australian pulses.

The Indian Government has announced it will reinstate a tariff on Australian Desi chickpeas effective from April 1 at an effective rate of 10 per cent.

This follows India reintroducing a tariff on Australian lentils on March 8, at an effective rate of 11 per cent.

India is a significant market for Australian pulses, with Australia shipping 1.2 million tonnes of Desi chickpeas alone to India in the marketing year to the end of January 2025.

Grains Australia Pulse Council Chair Peter Wilson thanked the Indian Government for its timely communication of the outcome of its policy deliberations.

“We will keep working positively with the the Indian Government and India’s pulse industry and focus on helping to meet the needs of this valued, longstanding market for Austrailan pulses,” Mr Wilson said.

“Grains Australia and its Australian industry partners have been engaging frequently with the Indian Government, the Australian High Commission to India and industry organisations, and will continue doing so, working on achieving benefits for both countries.”

Mr Wilson said that following the reinstated tariffs, Australian pulse growers would make their own decisions on planting programs based on a range of factors including soil moisture profiles.

An initiative of the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC), Grains Australia is responsible for vital industry services and functions that improve the industry’s competitiveness and profitability.

Most recently, Grains Australia personnel attended the Indian Pulses and Grains Association’s Pulses Conclave 2025 event in New Delhi, accompanied by a group of self-funded Australian growers.

“Indian Government officials were thrilled to associate with these family farming operators, as they reflect the basis of the Indian pulse growing community,” Mr Wilson said.

Grains Australia representatives will next week be in Mumbai for Grain Trade Australia’s inaugural Australian Grain Industry Conference (AGIC) Asia event in India, of which Grains Australia is a Conference Partner.

Peter Breguet, Grains Australia Senior Manager, Trade and Market Access, will participate in the event and has been travelling to India often to have discussions with Government and industry stakeholders.

“I’m excited to be heading back to India in early April – the effort and commitment by the Australian Government and grains industry to engage regularly with India on meaningful topics can only improve outcomes for both countries,” he said.

Mr Breguet said he was looking forward to hearing insights during AGIC Asia (India) from Grains and Legumes Nutrition Council General Manager Kathy La Macchia, who will present on behalf of Grains Australia and the Australian Export Grains Innovation Centre.

“Kathy will deliver insights into the advantages of Australian grain, outline latest global whole grain trends and address some of the international barriers to consumption,” he said.

Published: March 31, 2025